On 17 March 2026, the BEPROACT Interreg NWE project, in collaboration with ATHENA, organised an interactive Upskilling Event at the Rijkswaterstaat LEF Future Center in Utrecht. The event brought together experts, practitioners and project partners to explore the latest developments in data-driven asset management, artificial intelligence and innovative approaches to training.
The programme featured an inspiring keynote by Ruben Ogink (World Class Maintenance), who shared practical insights into the challenges and opportunities of implementing data-driven asset management in real-world environments.
Throughout the day, participants took part in a series of hands-on workshops focusing on AI applications, infrastructure monitoring, virtual reality training scenarios and asset management tools. These interactive sessions provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge, explore new technologies and gain practical experience with innovative solutions.
A key objective of the event was to test and further improve training modules developed within the BEPROACT project for operators, managers and policy executives. Feedback from participants will contribute to the continued development of these learning materials, ensuring they meet the needs of future users.
The event brought together a diverse group of organisations and project partners, including Rijkswaterstaat, Dublin City Council, University of Lille, Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), the Federal Highway and Transport Research Institute (BASt), Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM), GEOSPARC, the US Army Corps of Engineers, ATHENA, Virtual Rangers and the National Asset Dashboard Rijkswaterstaat.
The Upskilling Event demonstrated the value of cross-border collaboration in strengthening digital skills, accelerating innovation and supporting the future of resilient and sustainable infrastructure management.